Red Sox notes: Jon Lester delivers more of the same (in a good way) in latest outing

Once again, Jon Lester gave off the same impression he had consistently delivered prior to the 2012 season, tossing four solid innings against the Pirates Wednesday at JetBlue Park. The Red Sox may have come away with a 9-3 loss to Pittsburgh, but it was the starter’s one-run, two-hit performance that proved most important.

“Good four innings of work today,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell. “I thought he used his curveball a little bit more today than he had in the previous two outings, part by design, part by some of the situations that arose. He might not have been as sharp as the last time out, but still 52 pitches in four innings, a good day of work for him.”

Lester has now pitched nine innings (3 outings), just the one run on three hits, striking out six and walking four.

“From each work session, to what he’s able to do inside the game,” Farrell said of Lester. “I think today showed the ability to make some adjustments from pitch to pitch even with the back to back walks in the one inning. I think he’s more in tune with his delivery mechanics that allows him to make those adjustments.”

– Brock Holt got his first-ever taste of playing first base as a professional Wednesday, handling the position well. The 24-year-old (who still has options) went 0-for-2 with a walk and is now 5-for-20 (.25o) with two walks.

Prior to this season, Holt — who came over to the Red Sox in their trade with Pittsburgh for Joel Hanrahan — had only played second base and shortstop in pro ball.

“Through the work that he’s done in early work, he’s shown the ability to adjust to different angles and different reads,” Farrell said. “You’ve got to the long hop, short hop that’s going to become more readily executed at that position. He’s a good athlete and he’s shown a lot of good aptitude.”

There was also some talk of Holt playing some outfield, although Farrell explained that is on the back-burner while the Texas native works at third.

– A couple of pitchers who have created some buzz in camp — Steven Wright and Rubby De La Rosa — experienced tough outings against the Pirates.

Wright allowed five runs on five hits and three walks over two innings, while De La Rosa followed up with a two-inning, three-run outing.

“If you look at the bigger picture he’s at the early stages of trying to perfect this pitch, one which is an imperfect pitch,” Farrell said of the knuckleballer, Wright. “That will be a constant pursuit. With Wake being here and the amount they can converse back and forth ‘¦ but at the same time, he’s got to learn that pitching in between the lines and not just on the side. That’s part of his development.”